And, what happiness prayer does bring one!"

"Do you pray, Teresa?" asked the wondering Rosa.

"Oh, at times. But see now, servants must do what they see their masters
do. After the death of my poor madame I prayed often, but little by little
I seemed to lose the habit. Your father hardly ever spoke to me, and
excepting Catalina, you were all too small to understand important things,
and the neighbors!--Oh, you know among our neighbors one never hears any
prayers at their houses either. I would be so happy before I die to see the
day when my poor madame's prayers be heard regarding us."

"It's a shame," said Rosa, "that Paula is so small. If she were only a few
years older perhaps she could"--"I'll tell you what's a shame, and that is
that she is coming at all," interrupted Catalina with the return of her bad
humor.

"Oh," sighed Teresa, "poor little thing! What could she do at her age! A
child of ten years will never be able to change your father's ideas. The
more you speak to him the worse he is. No, the one who has to change will
be the child _herself_! She must learn to do as we do. I do hope she may
not have to suffer too much. Of course, at her age she will adapt herself
quickly to her surroundings, and after all, your father is a good-hearted
man. There! At last the sock is done! It was time, for I cannot see any
more. What a lovely day it has been! The fruit ought to ripen quickly with
a few more days like this."

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine ... it was the great
clock of Darnetal that recalled us to the present.